With strong support from women, blacks and younger voters, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the
apparent Democratic presidential contender, leads Arizona Sen. John McCain, expected to be the
Republican candidate, among likely voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to
simultaneous Quinnipiac University Swing State polls released today.

This is the first time Sen. Obama has led in all three states. No one has been elected
President since 1960 without taking two of these three largest swing states in the Electoral
College. Results from the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University polls show:

Florida: Obama edges McCain 47 - 43 percent;

Ohio: Obama tops McCain 48 - 42 percent;

Pennsylvania: Obama leads McCain 52 - 40 percent.

In the three states, Obama leads McCain 10 to 23 percentage points among women, while
men are too close to call. The Democrat trails among white voters in Florida and Ohio, but gets
more than 90 percent of black voters in each state. He also has double-digit leads among young
voters in each state.

"Finally getting Sen. Hillary Clinton out of the race has been a big boost for Sen. Barack
Obama. He now leads in all three of the major swing states, although his margins in Florida and
Ohio are small," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute.

"Sen. Obama is certainly not out of the woods, but these results are a good indication that
he enters the summer slightly ahead in the race to be the next president."

While Democrats support the idea, independent voters in each state say Obama should not
choose Sen. Clinton as his vice presidential running mate. Results are:

"If Sen. Obama seriously is thinking about picking Sen. Clinton as his running mate, these
numbers might cause him to reconsider. The people who really matter come November -
independent voters - turn thumbs down on the idea. And, many say they are less likely to vote
for him if he puts her on the ticket," Brown added.

"One in five voters say McCain's age is a reason to vote against him. But overwhelmingly
they don't see Obama's race as a factor at all - indicating that Americans are either much less
concerned with race, or just don't want to tell callers what they really think on the subject."

President Bush's approval ratings are:

27 - 66 percent in Florida;

22 - 71 percent in Ohio;

24 - 72 percent in Pennsylvania.

Fifty to 58 percent of voters in each state list the economy as the most important issue in
deciding how they will vote.

By almost 2 - 1 margins in each state, voters say going to war in Iraq was wrong. But they
split between Obama's plan to withdraw U.S. troops under a fixed timetable and McCain's plan to
keep troops there until the situation stabilizes and then withdraw without a set schedule.

"The only good news for McCain in these numbers is that despite voters' views on the war,
he is holding his own with them about where to go from here," said Brown.

Because of his age, 22 percent of Ohio voters say they are less likely to vote for McCain,
while 75 percent say it doesn't matter. Obama's race won't affect their vote, 89 percent say.

While 85 percent of Ohio voters say the vice presidential selection is "very important" or
"somewhat important" to their votes, native sons do not fare well. Voters say:

17 - 11 percent that they are less likely to vote Democratic if Gov. Ted Strickland is the
running mate, while 68 percent say it won't make a difference;

10 - 5 percent that they are less likely to vote Republican if Sen. Rob Portman is the vice
presidential candidate, while 78 percent say it won't make a difference.

"Although he still trails among white working-class voters, Sen. Obama is within hailing
distance among them and doing well enough that if he keeps the same level of support through
November he's likely to carry Ohio," Brown said.

Nineteen percent of the people who voted for Bush in 2004 now back Obama, while 24
percent of the voters who supported Clinton in the primaries now back McCain.

McCain's age will not affect their vote, 73 percent say, while 24 percent say they are less
likely to vote for him because of his age. Obama's race will not affect their vote, 88 percent say.

A total of 87 percent of Pennsylvania likely voters say the vice presidential candidate is
"very important" or "somewhat" important in their November vote. But looking at some
choices, voters say:

25 - 16 percent that they would be less likely to vote Democratic if Gov. Ed Rendell is
on the ticket, while 56 percent say it won't make a difference;

Split 18 - 18 percent on whether they would be more likely to vote for McCain if he is
running with Tom Ridge, while 62 percent say it doesn't make a difference.

"Pennsylvania continues to be the most Democratic of the three states, the state where Sen.
Barack Obama does best overall and the only state where he leads, however slightly, among white
voters," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"The long spring primary season appears to have hardened the battle lines, with more than
75 percent of the voters in each state saying they have made up their minds on how they will vote
in the Fall."

From June 9 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed:

1,453 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent;

1,396 Ohio likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent;

1,511 Pennsylvania likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

10. If Barack Obama chooses (Bill Nelson, Ted Strickland, Ed Rendell) to be his
vice-presidential running mate, would that make you more likely to vote for Obama,
less likely to vote for Obama, or doesn't it make a difference?

11. If John McCain chooses (Charlie Crist, Rob Portman, Tom Ridge) to be his
vice-presidential running mate, would that make you more likely to vote for
McCain, less likely to vote for McCain, or doesn't it make a difference?